With the big increase in money raised from its 2014 Boston Marathon charity runners, the Michael Lisnow Respite Center in Hopkinton is able to open a fourth group home.

Like many other charities, the center is reporting a significant spike in its fundraising from the Marathon this year.

"It was a year like we’ve never seen," said Sharon Lisnow, co-founder of the organization that has been involved with the Marathon since 1998. "We’ve raised more money than we’ve ever had."

There were about 118 runners on this year’s team.

Without disclosing how much the center took in, she attributed the purchase of the new home to its Boston Marathon runners — the organization’s largest fundraiser.

"It is huge we are able to buy a four-bedroom home that will have 24-hour care because of our Boston Marathon runners," Lisnow said. "The Boston Marathon is the backbone of support for the respite center."

This year, Boston Marathon runners raised a record $38.4 million for more than 300 charities — nearly doubling last year’s $20 million raised, the Boston Athletic Association announced Tuesday.

The majority of charity runners gained entry through the association’s charity program and John Hancock’s Marathon Non-Profit Program. Over the past 29 years, the two programs have raised more than $208 million for charity.

The $38.4 million does not include bibs given to towns and cities along the Marathon route that may have been used for other charities or non-profits, such as the Hopkinton Public Library Foundation, Natick Education Foundation and MetroWest Boys and Girls Clubs, according to Jack Flemming, director of marketing and communications for the BAA.

Many qualified runners also contributed by raising money for charity, according to a press release.

To accommodate those affected by the 2013 bombings near the finish line, the field of runners was expanded to 36,000 runners this year - about 10,000 more than most years.

The BAA made special donations to the One Fund Boston, the Martin W. Richard Charitable Foundation, local hospitals, and many other organizations that either responded after the bombings or were set up to benefit those injured by the attacks.

"This year’s Boston Marathon was like no other that we have witnessed," said Tom Grilk, BAA executive director in a prepared statement. "The 2014 Boston Marathon will go down in history as a special day for the sport, for the city of Boston and for unprecedented fundraising, all benefitting local charities."

The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation in Framingham raised $210,000 with 24 runners this year which bested last year's $175,000. The Marathon is one of the organization’s largest fundraisers each year.

Nicole Guglielmucci, director of marketing and events, said several runners who received bibs for not being able to finish last year continued to raise money even though they weren’t required.

Page 2 of 2 - "We were hugely inspired by what the team was able to do," she said.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute marked its 25th year of raising money through the program with more than 700 runners. The team raised $8 million — about $3 million more than last year, according to former Hopkinton Selectman Brian Herr, who ran his 25th Boston Marathon to raise money for the cause.

Last year’s bombing touched so many lives, he said.

"It inspired people to participate and for people to give," Herr said. "Some people can run and others can write checks."

Herr said he raised $25,000 this year.

"It has been great to see and be a part of," he said. "It is an amazing event to watch over the years from so many aspects."

Jonathan Phelps can be reached at 508-626-4338 or jphelps@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @JPhelps_MW.